Apparatus and Method for Allocating Communication Resources in a Communication System

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for allocating communication resources in a communication system. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to monitor communication resources employed by a plurality of base stations, determine an opportunity for improved utilization of the communication resources by the apparatus and the plurality of base stations, and generate a change request for the communication resources employed by at least one of the plurality of base stations based on the opportunity for improved utilization thereof.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   memory including computer program code,   said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:
 monitor communication resources employed by a plurality of base stations; 
 determine an opportunity for improved utilization of said communication resources by said apparatus and said plurality of base stations; and 
 generate a change request for said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations based on said opportunity for improved utilization thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor cause said apparatus to transmit said change request to at least one of said plurality of base stations, receive acknowledgements to said change request and initiate a change in response to said acknowledgements. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor cause said apparatus to transmit said change request to at least one of said plurality of base stations and receive an acknowledgement from one of said plurality of base stations, wherein said acknowledgement is a function of a subsequent change request from said one of said plurality of base stations to another of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to generate said change request for said communication resources employed by said apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to generate an exchange of communication resources employed between two of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said communication resources comprise unused communication resources for said apparatus, said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to generate a change request for at least one of said unused communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations, thereby freeing up said at least one of said unused communication resources for said apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to transmit said change request for said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations via a communication path to said one of said plurality of base stations traversing a limited number of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said opportunity for improved utilization of said communication resources is dependent on a distance or a path loss between ones of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to receive information about said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations from a user equipment in a serving area of said apparatus or from one of said plurality of base stations over an X2 communication path or an over-the-air communication path. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code is configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to transmit said change request for said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations via a user equipment, or an X2 communication path or an over-the-air communication path to said one of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product comprising a program code stored in a computer readable medium configured to:
 monitor communication resources employed by a plurality of base stations;   determine an opportunity for improved utilization of said communication resources by said apparatus and said plurality of base stations; and   generate a change request for said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations based on said opportunity for improved utilization thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 11  wherein said program code stored in said computer readable medium is further configured to transmit said change request to at least one of said plurality of base stations, receive acknowledgements to said change request and initiate a change in response to said acknowledgements. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 11  wherein said program code stored in said computer readable medium is further configured to transmit said change request to at least one of said plurality of base stations and receive an acknowledgement from one of said plurality of base stations, wherein said acknowledgement is a function of a subsequent change request from said one of said plurality of base stations to another of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 11  wherein said program code stored in said computer readable medium is further configured to generate a change request for at least one of said unused communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of base stations, thereby freeing up said at least one of said unused communication resources for a base station. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring communication resources employed by a plurality of neighboring base stations;   determining an opportunity for improved utilization of said communication resources by a base station and said plurality of neighboring stations; and   generating a change request for said communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of neighboring base stations based on said opportunity for improved utilization thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising transmitting said change request to at least one of said plurality of neighboring base stations, receive acknowledgements to said change request and initiate a change in response to said acknowledgements. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising transmitting said change request to at least one of said plurality of neighboring base stations and receive an acknowledgement from one of said plurality of neighboring base stations, wherein said acknowledgement is a function of a subsequent change request from said one of said plurality of neighboring base stations to another of said plurality of neighboring base stations. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising generating said change request for said communication resources employed by said base stations. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising generating an exchange of communication resources employed between two of said plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein said communication resources comprise unused communication resources for said base station, said method further comprising generating a change request for at least one of said unused communication resources employed by at least one of said plurality of neighboring stations, thereby freeing up said at least one of said unused communication resources for said base station.